Session 4: Policy and International Cooperation (15:20 – 17:00)

Over the course of 2015, China’s bilateral diplomatic efforts with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany have resulted in landmark cyber agreements. However, cyberspace is subject to fast-paced change and transnationally-based threats. This raises the inevitable question: how do we develop the right collaborative tools and institutions for cyber defense? What skills and frameworks should policymakers develop to meet the challenge of cyber security? What are possible solutions to cyber threats through collaboration across political, legal, security, and private sectors?

Speakers


Colonel Chen Ting, 陈婷 上校

Associate Research Fellow at Academy of Military Science (AMS), PLA

Study on Cyberspace Conflict Between China and the United States

While the Internet has brought unparalleled social and economic opportunities, it has also introduced challenges to national and economic security. Cyberspace conflicts between countries have increased in number and intensity. In recent years, this problem has had tremendous impact in Sino-American relations. The question of how to avoid cyberspace conflicts has become paramount in the development of the Sino-American relationship. The cyberspace conflict between the two countries covers the following four issues: (1) cyber supervision; (2) cyber information theft; (3) cyber offenses; (4) cyber rule. At the present moment, it is possible to identify three main contradictions occurring in cyberspace: (1) peaceful use of the Internet vs. militarization of cyberspace; (2) joint management of Internet resources by various countries vs. actual control of the cyberspace by the USA; (3) establishment of a fair cyber order vs. pursuit of “asymmetrical” benefits in cyberspace

Although the structural contradictions of Sino-American relationship cannot be changed, and cyberspace conflicts between two countries cannot be done away with, there is still scope for further cooperation between the two countries in the field of anti-terrorism, combating cybercrime, and the establishment of cyber rule. Such cooperation is vital to enhance mutual trust and, more generally, the stability of cyberspace.